They huddle, wait until I stomp out the cinder
and slide the door closed. The world resets.
By the window, I listen to their voices kindle

and rise back into song. Breasts puffed,
they hum as if filled with buff-tailed bees.

*

Lucian Mattison’s poems can be found and are forthcoming in Bodega, Boiler Journal, Digital Americana, Everyday Genius, and other journals. If you are ever in Norfolk and wish to play him in backgammon, email him at Lucian.c.mattison@gmail.com.